Methods and apparatus for controlling multiple infrared devices

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of infrared devices (ICDs) is provided herein. A remote controller is used to generate an optical signal for controlling a plurality of ICDs. The optical signal generated by the remote controller is converted into an electrical signal by an infrared repeater device. An implementation of such a system includes a rotary mechanical switch to direct the electrical signal generated by the infrared repeater device to a light emitting diode (LED) located near one of the plurality of ICDs. The LED converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and re-transmits the optical signal to the one of the plurality of ICDs. The system allows controlling the plurality of ICDs located in a remote location without having the user commute closer to such ICDs.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent relates generally to controllers for infrared devices, andmore particularly, to a controller for selecting between two or moreinfrared devices from a centralized location.

BACKGROUND

Broadcasting stations used for broadcasting pay-per-view televisionchannels via satellites or via microwave transmission networks typicallytransmit multiple programs on multiple channels. Generally, suchbroadcasting stations are managed from a central control facility thatreceives a number of programs from a number of different sources. Forexample, one of the number of programs received at the central controlfacility of a broadcasting station may be a live feed from a sportsevent, a live feed from a scene of a crime, etc. Subsequently thepersonnel at the central control facility are responsible for selectingwhich of such programs to receive and to repackage for re-transmittal.

Typically, within the central control facility of a broadcastingstation, each of the multiple sources can be received on one of a numberof program receivers by tuning a program receiver to a given frequency.For proper reception of an incoming program, various other parameters ofsuch program receivers, such as the noise level adjustment, bandwidth,gain parameters, etc., may need to be changed as well.

The program receivers are generally stacked in racks so that a largenumber of program receivers can be stored in an equipment area. Theprogram receivers may be controlled by directly-cabled means such asRS-232, RS-422 or Ethernet. Alternatively, when program receivers do nothave serial, networked or other addressable control capabilities, theymay be controlled by consumer grade equipment, such as, infrared remotecontrollers. Even though these program receivers can be controlledmanually or via one or more controllers connected to them, generallythese receivers are controlled remotely via infrared controllers.Typically, all program receivers within a given control facility are ofthe same brand and model such that the settings for all of the programreceivers can be changed using a single infrared controller. Controllingprogram receivers using infrared controllers allows one to avoid havingto physically reach a program receiver unit which may be accessible onlyvia stairs or by moving one or more racks. Also, using infra-redcontrollers allows the personnel in the control facility to change theoperation of such receivers without having to hard-wire communicationconnections to the program receivers. To recognize the commandstransmitted by the infrared controller, each of the program receivers tobe controlled contains an infrared controlled device (ICD) mounted onits panel. Such an ICD typically includes an infrared detection modulethat converts the received infrared signal to an electrical signal andthat provides the electrical signal to a circuit that controls theprogram receiver. Consequently, a central control facility that containsa number of program receivers will also have a number of ICDs.

Using an infrared controller with a cluster of ICDs located close toeach other on racks causes at least two distinct problems. First,central control facilities typically have a separate equipment room thatcontains one or more racks with a number of program receivers, eachhaving an ICD, whereas a broadcast operator controlling such ICDsgenerally works from a broadcast room separate from the equipment room.Because of this arrangement, every time a broadcast operator needs tomake a change to the operation of a program receiver, the broadcastoperator must walk away from the broadcast room to the equipment room.This is a very inefficient method of controlling the operation ofprogram receivers.

Secondly, because a number of program receivers are typically placed inracks close together, if a broadcast operator attempts to change asetting of a particular program receiver using an infrared controller,the control signal transmitted from the infrared controller may bereceived by ICDs located on other program receivers in the rack close tothe intended program receiver. This may cause the settings of such anearby program receiver to be changed unintentionally. To avoid changinga setting of program receivers other than an intended program receiver,a broadcast operator must get very close to the ICD located on a programreceiver so that an infrared beam emitted from the infrared controlleris not received by any other ICD located on another program receiver. Itis not always possible to get in close proximity to an ICD located on aprogram receiver, for example, when a program receiver is stacked highon a rack. Even if it is possible to get physically close to an ICD, theneed to do so defeats the purpose of using ICDs. Alternatively thebroadcast operator must narrow the infrared emission angle so that onlyone ICD receives the signal transmitted by the remote controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present patent is illustrated by way of examples and not limitationsin the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similarelements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for remotely controlling multiple infraredcontrolled devices;

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate system for remotely controlling multipleinfrared controlled devices; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method used for remotely controllingmultiple infrared controlled devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES

Although the following text sets forth a detailed description ofnumerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understoodthat the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of theclaims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description isto be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possibleembodiment of the invention because describing every possible embodimentwould be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternativeembodiments could be implemented, using either current technology ortechnology developed after the filing date of this patent, which wouldstill fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.

It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined inthis patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ ishereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intentto limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication,beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not beinterpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in anysection of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To theextent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent isreferred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning,that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader,and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implicationor otherwise, to that single meaning.

A system for controlling a number of infrared controlled devices (ICDs)used in a broadcasting station having a number of ICDs each equippedwith an infrared detector is disclosed. An infrared emitter, such as alight emitting diode (LED), is located near each of the ICDs such that asignal transmitted by an LED is captured by one and only one infrareddetector. The electrical signal input to the LEDs is generated by arotary switch or a demultiplexer, where the rotary switch or thedemultiplexer is controlled by a remote control device or a computer.

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified diagram of a system 100 for controllinga plurality of ICDs that may be used in a central control facility of abroadcasting station. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the system100 includes a remote controller 102, a connector selection module 104and a plurality of ICDs 106.

The remote controller 102 may be any of the standard remote controllersavailable off the shelf, similar to ones used for controlling a TV, avideo cassette recorder (VCR), etc. The remote controller 102 used in acentral control facility of a broadcasting station may be provided by amanufacturer of program receivers used by the broadcasting station.Remote controllers available in the market use a number of differentoptical signals to transmit control information, with infrared being themost commonly used mode of transmitting such information. Therefore, theexplanation of the system 100 described herein will refer to infraredsignals only. However, in practice, other types of optical signals maybe used as well. An example of the remote controller 102 may be HughesHNS-R replacement infrared remote controller that is used to controlsatellite TV and DirectTV® related accessories.

The remote controller 102 generally has a number of alpha, numeric, andother control buttons 108 that allow a user to select a combination ofnumbers, a specific command, etc. For example, one such button may beused to switch an operating frequency of a program receiver used by thecentral control facility. In another example, a user may press aspecific combination of numeric buttons to select a specific frequencyfor a program receiver. Subsequently, the remote controller 102 maytransmit an optical signal corresponding to the numeric selection in adirection in which the remote controller 102 is pointed. In theexemplary system of FIG. 1, the remote controller 102 is pointed towardsthe cable connector selection module 104, which results in an opticalsignal from the remote controller 102 being transmitted towards thecable connector selection module 104.

The cable connector selection module 104 shown in FIG. 1 allows a userto select one of a plurality of connectors 110 to convey a signalemitted by the remote controller 102 to one of the plurality of ICDs106. The exemplary cable connector selection module 104 includes aninfrared repeater 112 connected to an input port of a mechanical rotaryswitch 114 and a power supply 116. The infrared repeater 112, which maybe, for example, a Xantech model 490-200 IR repeater, is designed toreceive infrared signals from the remote controller 102 and to convertthem into electrical signals. For each infrared signal received from theremote controller 102, the infrared repeater 112 outputs a uniqueelectrical signal.

The exemplary mechanical rotary switch 114 of FIG. 1 comprises an inputport 118, a rotary arm 120, and a number of output ports 122. The inputport 118 receives an electrical input signal from the infrared repeater112 and a user can rotate the rotary arm 120 to electrically connect theinput port 118 to any of the output ports 122, which are connected tothe plurality of conductor cables 110. For example, when the rotary arm120 is located in the position shown in FIG. 1, the input port 118 iselectrically connected to a fifth output port 122. In this case anelectrical signal generated by the infrared repeater 112 will betransmitted from the input port 118 to the fifth output port 122 andthen to the connector connected to the fifth output port 122. As it willbe clear to one of ordinary skill in the art, an alternate type ofswitch can also be used. For example, a sliding bar switch can be usedin place of the mechanical rotary switch 114.

The power supply 116 provides the necessary power that will betransmitted from the infrared repeater 112 to one of the plurality ofconnectors 110 as determined by the switch 114.

Each of the plurality of ICDs 106 of FIG. 1 is located on a programreceiver used by the central control facility and has an infraredemitter located nearby. While a number of different types of infraredemitters can be used, in the exemplary illustration of FIG. 1, each ofthe infrared emitters located near the plurality of ICDs 106 is a lightemitting diode (LED). For example, in FIG. 1, LED 126 is located near anICD 124. As further shown in FIG. 1, the cathodes of each of theplurality of LEDs 126 are connected together and are connected to thecathode of the infrared detector 112. The anodes of each of theplurality of LED 126 are connected to one of a plurality of the outputsof the rotary switch 114. For example, the LED 126 is connected to aconnector-5 128 and to the output port 122.

When an electrical current passes through an LED, the LED emits aninfrared signal which is captured by an ICD located near the LED. Inother words, the LEDs shown in FIG. 1 are optically coupled to theassociated ICDs. For example, the ICD 124 may be optically coupled tothe LED 126 by either mounting the LED 126 on a light detector port ofthe ICD 124, or by locating the LED 126 in a close proximity to thelight detector port of the ICD 124 in such a way that a light signalemitted by the LED 126 will be captured by only the ICD 124 and by noother ICD from the plurality of ICDs 106. Such a close coupling of anLED with an ICD ensures that one and only one ICD receives an opticalsignal emitted by any particular LED. A user can then transmitinformation to an ICD by passing an electrical current through an LEDlocated near such an ICD.

In one example of the system 100, the ICD 124 may control a programreceiver that receives a TV program from a satellite network. This maybe the case, for example, in a broadcast control center that receives anumber of TV programs from a satellite networks and that retransmits theTV programs on a cable network. A user interested in controlling theprogram received on the program receiver associated with the ICD 124 mayset the rotary arm 120 of the rotary switch 106 to the position shown inFIG. 1, such that the LED 126 is electrically connected through theconnector 128 to the infrared repeater 112. In this situation, a signaltransmitted on the connector 128 will power the LED 126 to generate aninfrared signal that will be transmitted to the ICD 124.

For example, if the user selects to change an operating frequency of areceiver that is associated with the ICD 124 from a first frequency to asecond frequency, the user may select the appropriate button 108 on theremote controller 102 specifying the new frequency and include a commandto change an operating frequency to a new frequency. The resultantinfrared signal generated by the remote controller 102 will betransmitted to the infrared detector 112 and converted into anelectrical signal. Such an electrical signal will be transmitted by therotary switch 114 to the connector 128 and subsequently to the LED 126.Upon receiving such an input signal, the LED 126 will generate andtransmit an infrared signal to the ICD 124 instructing the ICD 124 tochange an operating frequency of a program receiver associated with theICD5.

It can be easily understood that the system 100 for controlling aplurality of ICDs can also be used in a number of other applicationswhere the plurality of ICDs 106 may be controlling devices other thanprogram receivers. For example, the system 100 can be used in a securitysurveillance system in a building where the devices controlled by theplurality of ICDs 106 may be a number of surveillance cameras located invarious parts of the building. In such an implementation, a user in asecurity control room may want to use the remote controller 102 tochange an angle or focus of a particular surveillance camera. In yetanother example, the system 100 can be used in a closed circuittelevision (CCTV) system where a user at a central location may want touse the remote controller 102 to control a volume or a brightness of aparticular TV set used in the CCTV.

In an implementation of the system 100 for controlling a plurality ofICDs used in a broadcast control center, a plurality of receiversassociated with the plurality of ICDs 106 may be stacked on one or moreracks where such racks are located in an equipment room, whereas theremote controller 102 and the connector selection module 104 can belocated in a control room where a broadcast operator is located. In suchan implementation of the system 100, the broadcast operator can controlthe plurality of receivers associated with the plurality of ICDs 106without having to physically go to the equipment room.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate implementation of a system 200 forcontrolling a number of infra-red devices. The system 200 of FIG. 2 issimilar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes many of thesame structures and components which are illustrated with like referencenumbers as those of FIG. 1. Whereas the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 usesa rotary switch 114 to implement the connector selection module 104, thesystem 200 shown in FIG. 2 uses a demultiplexer 202 to implement aconnector selection module 204. In general, a demultiplexer selects anoutput line from a number of output lines to carry an input signal basedon a control signal received by the demultiplexer and communicates theinput signal received on the input line to the selected output line. Anumber of off-the-shelf integrated circuits can be used as ademultiplexer. Alternatively, a demultiplexer can also be implementedusing a combination of firmware and software.

FIG. 2 illustrates a few different implementations of the connectorselection module 204 using the demultiplexer 202. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2, the demultiplexer 202 receives an input on one ofthe two lines 206 and 208. Such an input is demultiplexed on one of theplurality of connectors 110 and is then transmitted to one of theplurality of ICDs 106. The demultiplexer 202 also receives a controlsignal on a line 210 or on a line 212 that determines which of theplurality of the connectors 110 will carry the input signal received bythe demultiplexer 202 to the plurality of ICDs 106.

In one implementation of the connector selection module 204, the remotecontroller 102 sends an optical signal for controlling one of theplurality of ICDs 106. The infrared repeater 112 converts the opticalsignal transmitted by the remote controller 102 into an electricalsignal and inputs the electric signal into the demultiplexer 202 on theline 208. A computer 220 generates a line control signal that determineswhich of the connectors from the plurality of connectors 110 will carrythe electrical signal on the line 208 to the plurality of ICDs 106.Subsequently, the computer 220 transmits such a line control signal viathe line 210 to the demultiplexer 202. A keyboard or any other inputdevice connected to the computer 220 can be used to generate the linecontrol signal input on the line 210. Such an implementation ofconnector selection module 204 allows a user in a central control officeto manage control signals transmitted to a plurality of ICDs 106. Thepower supply 116 is used to provide a power input to the infrareddetector 112 and to the computer 220. The power supply 116 may also beused to provide power to the demultiplexer 202.

Alternatively, the connector selection module 204 can be implementedsuch that the remote controller 102 also generates the line controlsignal to select which of the plurality of connectors 110 carries asignal to the plurality of ICDs 106. In such an implementation, theremote controller 102 transmits an optical line control signal to theinfrared repeater 112, which converts such an optical line controlsignal to an electrical line control signal and outputs the electricalline control signal on the line 212. Subsequently, the remote controller102 generates an optical signal which is converted and transmitted onthe line 208 and which is then sent to one of the plurality of ICDs 106.

In yet another implementation of the connector selection module 204, thecomputer 220 generates a signal on the line 206 and the demultiplexer202 transmits such a signal to one of the plurality of ICDs 106, wherethe demultiplexer 202 selects a connector carrying such a signal using aline control signal input to the demultiplexer 202 either on the line210 or on the line 212.

An alternate implementation of the connector selection module 204 canpermit operation between locations separated by large distances. Forexample, commands from the connector selection module 104 may be sent tothe plurality of ICDs 106 over the Internet.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart of a method 300 used for remotelycontrolling the plurality of ICDs 106 by using either of the system 100illustrated in FIG. 1 or the system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. At a step302 a user determines whether an operational setting of any of theprogram receivers attached to the plurality of ICDs 106 needs to beadjusted. If such an adjustment is necessary, at a step 304 a userselects one of the ICDs from the plurality of ICDs 106 and a connectorfrom the plurality of the connectors 110 carries a signal to such aselected ICD. A user can set the mechanical rotary switch 114 of FIG. 1or select an appropriate line control signal on either one of the lines210 and 212 of the demultiplexer 202 of FIG. 2 to select one of theplurality of connectors 110. At a step 306 a user transmits a signal onthe connector selected at the step 304. A user can generate the signalto be transmitted to the plurality of ICDs 106 by either using theremote controller 102, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 above, or byusing the computer 220 as illustrated in FIG. 2 above.

Many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques andstructures described and illustrated herein without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should beunderstood that the methods and apparatus described herein areillustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the presentpatent.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A system for transmitting signals to a plurality ofoptically controlled devices, wherein each of the optically controlleddevices respond in a similar fashion to a given optical input signal,comprising: a device for generating an electrical signal; a switchingunit, coupled to the device, for selectively transmitting the electricalsignal; and a plurality of light emitting devices, connected to theswitching unit in a respective fashion, for generating and transmittingan optical output signal to the optically controlled device in responseto the electrical signal received from the switching unit, such thatonly a subset of the plurality of optically controlled devices receivethe optical output signal based on a position of the switching device.22. The system of claim 21, wherein the device is a computer.
 23. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein the switching unit is a demultiplexer. 24.The system of claim 23, wherein the device further generates a controlsignal to the demultiplexer to select a light emitting device from theplurality of light emitting devices to receive the electrical signal.25. The system of claim 21, further comprising a receiver controlcircuit located on a program receiver and adapted to control anoperational setting of the program receiver in response to the opticaloutput signal.
 26. The system of claim 21, wherein the device and atleast one of the plurality of optically controlled devices are locatedin separate locations.
 27. A system for controlling multiple opticallycontrolled devices comprising: a device configured to generate anelectrical signal; a switching unit adapted to output the electricalsignal to one of a plurality of conductors; a plurality of infraredemitting devices connected to the plurality of conductors in arespective fashion and configured to generate an optical signal inresponse to the electrical signal; and a plurality of infraredresponsive devices in optical communication with the plurality ofinfrared emitting devices, wherein each of the plurality of infraredresponsive devices responds similarly to the optical signal, and only asubset of the plurality of infrared responsive devices receives theoptical signal based on a state of the switching device.
 28. The systemof claim 27, wherein the switching device is a multi-position,mechanical rotary switch.
 29. The system of claim 27, wherein theswitching device is a demultiplexer.
 30. The system of claim 27, whereinthe plurality of infrared responsive devices are connected to aplurality of receiver controller devices where each of the plurality ofreceiver controller devices is adapted to control an operational settingof a program receivers.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein theplurality of program receivers are adapted for use in a broadcastcontrol center to receive programs to be re-transmitted on at least oneof a television network and a cable network.
 32. The system of claim 27,wherein the plurality of infrared responsive devices are connected to aplurality of cameras in a security surveillance network.
 33. A method ofselectively transmitting an electrical signal to a plurality of lightemitting devices comprising: generating the electrical signal; selectingone of a plurality of conductors; and transmitting the electrical signalby the selected conductor to one of the plurality of light emittingdevices to generate an optical signal from the one of the plurality oflight emitting devices, wherein the light emitting device is selected bythe selection of one of the plurality of conductors.
 34. The method ofclaim 33, further comprising: transmitting the optical signal from thelight emitting device to an optically controlled device; and controllingan operational setting of a program receiver in response to the opticalsignal received by the optically controlled device.
 35. The method ofclaim 33, wherein selecting one of the plurality of conductors compriseschanging a control input signal of a demultiplexer.
 36. A method ofclaim 35, wherein changing the control input signal of the demultiplexercomprises generating the control input signal in a computer andtransmitting the control input signal from the computer to thedemultiplexer.